WAVERLY, Iowa – In a matchup of two teams with the exact same records, Wartburg College won both games of a softball doubleheader over Nebraska Wesleyan by the same score in both contests.  The Knights defeated the Prairie Wolves twice 5-3 in American Rivers Conference action.
 
With one doubleheader remaining this weekend, the Prairie Wolves now sit at 22-12 overall and 7-7 in American Rivers play to fall to 5^th in the league standings.  NWU is at University of Dubuque on Saturday for a doubleheader that will decide their postseason fate.  Dubuque is one game behind NWU in the league standings.
 
Wartburg scored three runs in the bottom of the 2^nd inning to take an early 3-0 advantage.  The Prairie Wolves cut the lead to 3-2 in the 4^th inning.   Kailey Meyer hit a one out single followed by another single from Payton Swanson.  Meredith Poppe drove them both in with a double to center field.
 
The Prairie Wolves then tied the game at 3-3 in the 6^th inning.  Meyer led off the inning with a single.  Pinch runner Makayla Fuchs moved to second on a bunt attempt from Swanson as she beat out the throw.  A double steal put runners at 2^nd and 3^rd with no outs.  Alycin Braun drove in Fuchs with the tying run.
 
In the bottom of the 6^th inning, the Knights were able to take advantage of a crucial NWU error to score a pair of unearned runs that gave them back the lead. 
 
NWU did have a chance in the 7^th inning as they loaded the bases with the tying run at second base.  A strikeout ended the game giving the Knights the victory.
 
Kailey Meyer allowed three earned runs on 12 hits to take the loss.  She struck out seven with no walks in six innings.  Morgan Shipley, Meyer and Swanson each had two hits to lead the NWU offense.
 
Wartburg looked to be completely in control of game two until the Prairie Wolves made a late run.  The Knights scored three runs in the 3^rd inning and held NWU to only one hit the first five innings of the game.
 
NWU got their offense on track in the 6^th inning, all with two outs.  Danelle Snyder singled then Alicia Perrien walked to bring up the tying run.  Meyer hit an RBI double to center field to bring in Snyder.  Swanson then tied the game with a 2-run single.
 
The tie game didn't last long as Wartburg responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.  The Knights had three hits in the inning and took advantage of an NWU error.
 
Once again the Prairie Wolves threatened in the 7^th inning.  With two outs, Kayla Prai and Morgan Shipley singled putting the tying run at first base.  RBI leader Danelle Snyder came to the plate but hit a hard ground ball to shortstop who threw to second for a force to end the game.
 
Grace Sommer took the loss on the mound allowing four earned runs and seven hits in six innings.  Swanson led the NWU offense going 2-2 with two RBI.